Abstract
We report on a study of atomic-sized metallic contacts on a time scale of nanoseconds using a combined DC and AC circuit. The approach leads to a time resolution 3-4 orders of magnitude faster than the measurements carried out to date, making it possible to observe fast transient conductance-switching events associated with the breakdown, re-formation, and atomic scale structural rearrangements of the contact. The study bridges the wide gap in the time scales between the molecular dynamic simulations and real world experiments, and the method may be applied to study nano- and subnanosecond processes in other nanoscale devices, such as molecular junctions.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 927-933 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Nano Letters |
Volume | 11 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Mar 9 2011 |
Keywords
- Quantum point contact
- RF STM
- atomic size contact
- conductance quantization
- electron transport
- molecular junctions
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Bioengineering
- General Chemistry
- General Materials Science
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Mechanical Engineering